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Friday, February 17, 2012

If you like frontier novels, then saddle up for these. Heidi M. Thomas writes from her family experience about cowgirls during a time when most girls were doing other things. Here's an interview with Heidi.

How did Cowgirl Dreams and Follow the Dream come about?

They’re based on my grandmother, who rode steers in Montana rodeos during the 1920s. That tidbit of information about her stuck with me through the years as fascinating and courageous, and I knew I had to write a book about her. I’m now working on the third book in the series, so far titled Nettie’s Cowgirls.

Nettie Brady bucks 1920s convention with her dream of becoming a rodeo star, and defies her family and social mores. That means competing with men, and cowgirls who ride the rodeo circuit are considered “loose women.”

Addicted to the thrill of pitting her strength and wits against a half-ton steer, Nettie exchanges skirts for pants, rides with her brothers on their Montana ranch, and competes in neighborhood rodeos.

But broken bones, influenza, floods, and family hardship keep Nettie from her dreams. Then she meets a young neighbor cowboy who rides broncs and raises rodeo stock…

Follow The Dream won a national WILLA Literary Award (Women Writing the West). It started in the Young Adult category, but it’s a good read for adults, too. How does Nettie’s story continue?

This book starts out with Nettie’s cowgirl dream come true—married to her rodeo cowboy, planning to ride the rodeo circuit. But she soon discovers that she will now have family responsibilities.

Then, drought and the Depression force them into years of continuous moves to find grass to feed their horse herd. Nettie experiences tragedy, loss and fear. She must learn that sometimes dreams need to be changed, but to never give up.

With the backdrop of Follow the Dream being prohibition, the Great Depression and terrible environmental conditions that challenged ranchers in Montana, what research did you draw on to show life during this time and place?

As a kid, I read Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck, of course, but Montana had its own set of problems and ways of dealing with that era. My dad told me many anecdotes about growing up in 1930s Montana, which I drew on for my book.

What makes you write?

I love the creative process, building a character from nothing or creating one that is based on a real person and making her seem real. I like telling a story and making people laugh or cry.

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Sheryl's Books

Book not currently available. Awaiting possible updates or new publisher.

"God, Am I Nobody?"

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"What Every Christian Should Know about the Jewish People"

Book out-of-print. Contemplating revisions. See FREE excerpts about Judaism and the Jewish holidays at the link on the book cover!

Improving the Church's Relationship with God's Original Chosen Nation

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About the Writer

Journalist and author Sheryl Young shares a unique perspective on politics, entertainment, society, faith and life here at 20-20 Faith Sight; and has afforded other Christian & Messianic Jewish writers a chance to be seen.She's available to speak on her topics, and also for non-writing duties in the Christian realm of publishing and public relations.Contact: real_absolute_truth@yahoo.com.

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Sheryl's writing has been seen in: Yahoo News, The Christian Post, The Underground OnlineChristian Magazine,Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Tampa Tribune, St. Pete Times and Florida Baptist Witness Newspapers; Better Nutrition and Today's Christian Woman Magazines; and more. Here are some Testimonials to her writing:

"I highly recommend God, Am I Nobody by Sheryl Young. I have learned so much from this book and read it in one weekend...In fact, I am reading it again... except this time as a weekly family devotional."May, 2012, Amazon.com reviewer (see more Amazon reviews here)

"Sheryl is one of the most dedicated and detail-oriented writers I have had the privilege to work with. Her focused attention to accuracy and relevancy has produced work that eclipses most mainstream outlets." June, 2011, Charles Reynolds, Freelance Journalist, Yahoo! News Contributor Network

"Sheryl is creative, hard-working and precise…she became our go-to person for deadline-driven pieces. You can count on quality from Sheryl. And she's a pleasure to work with." July, 2009, Rosemary Goudreau, Editorial Page Editor, Tampa Tribune.